Expert answer

Hi there,

Generally speaking SsangYongs are very reliable, not least because the older models tend towards the crude and simple end of the scale. On the Actyon just keep an eye out for sticking transmissions (or lumpy changes if it's an auto) and fragile cabin trim. Oh, and for a diesel car it's not very fuel efficient - you'll be lucky to break 30mpg in daily driving.

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Hi Clo,

Nothing to worry about on the reliability front anyway - we've been trawling the web for Tuscon owners ranting about problems and there just don't seem to be any. The only concern is over the fuel economy, not that it's bad, but it does seem to be inconsistent and it's not helped by the fact that the Tuscon's trip computer is apparently calibrated for US gallons, which can make for inaccurate read-outs. There's also the fact that the Tuscon was designed and built when Hyundai was just on the cusp of its transformation from budget brand to major player, so things like cabin quality and refinement are merely OK, rather than the excellent ratings we tend to give the current Hyundai range.

Hope that helps

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Hi Paula,

Yup, you're onto a winner there. A lot of motoring writers get a bit sniffy about the Nissan Micra, but actually it's a car with which there is very little wrong. That third generation model that you're talking about is actually probably the best one of all, with a nice, comfy, spacious interior, a peppy little 1.2-litre engine and a chassis that's actually more entertaining to drive than you would think. Of course, the automatic gearbox will sap a little bit of power, but as long as you're not entering any traffic light Grands Prix, you'll be fine. Reliability simply shouldn't be an issue as the Micra has always been conspicuously well built. Just check carefully to make sure it's been serviced regularly and that the oil for the automatic gearbox has been changed regularly too.

Let us know how you get on

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Hi William,

There are three engines available in the latest Corolla, and though we assume you mean the 1.4-litre diesel, here are all the official figures for completion:

1.33-litre petrol model: 50.4mpg (5.6 litres/100km)

1.4-litre diesel model in Terra grade: 74.3mpg (3.8 litres/100km)

1.4-litre diesel model in Aura or Luna grade: 72.4mpg (3.9 litres/100km)

1.6-litre petrol with automatic gearbox: 50.4mpg (5.6 litres/100km)

Note that these figures are all official 'combined cycle' results and don't usually reflect what drivers achieve themselves. 

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Hi Helen,

The automatic version of the all-wheel drive Outlander has higher emissions than the manual one so it costs more to tax - €390 versus €280 per year.

Hope that helps

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Hi Shay,

I'd suggest a little T-Cut to take off the unwanted paint (gently, you don't want to get down to bare metal) and a good buff with a colour-restoring wax (Turtle Wax has some good ones or you could splash out on Autoglym). Mind you, you should probably keep a can of touch-up paints to hand during all of this, and if it's a big scrape in an especially prominent area, you might be better to bite the bullet and get a professional in to help...

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Hi Nappa,

It depends. A sume of €4,000 is a small amount of money to pay for what was a truly cutting edge car when it came out, and an especially rewarding car to drive. But it’s also a very complex car, which is now 15 years old, so you need to buy very carefully, don’t buy anything that doesn’t have a full service history and be prepared to spend to keep it maintained and serviced.

As for diesel costs, it depends on how you drive, where you drive and how far you drive, but around 30mpg is what you should expect in terms of fuel economy.

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Hi Peter,

Yes, it's reliable and no, there are no major issues to watch out for. Just bear in mind a couple of things. Automatic cars can be a little harder on brakes than their manual cousins, and they can of course be more thirsty. More significant still, the smaller-engined versions of the Polo 55- and 65hp 1.2 petrols are pretty sluggish at the best of times and with an auto 'box both drawing power and adding weight, you could be looking at really slow-motion driving.

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Hi Paxton,

Well, it depends what you mean by SUV. Large? Small? Proper 4x4 or front-wheel drive? Our favourites run the gamut from Peugeot 2008 to Skoda Yeti to Honda CR-V to Kia Sorento to BMW X5, but it just depends what you’re looking for.

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Hi Morgan,

Honestly, there is just nothing to look for on these cars, beyond the usual making sure the service history is complete and up to date, and checking underneath for signs of, ahem, over-enthusiastic off-roading. It is worth bearing in mind that these cars are bred for hard work and can get abused by former owners, but as long as you're happy with the history, all should be well. As for long or short wheelbase, it depends what you want it for. If you're planing on carrying kids or other rear seat passengers, then get the long wheelbase model, as the shortie is just a bit pointless in the back. And definitely go for automatic, it'll pay off come resale time.

Hope that helps